Pokemon Go, when it first released, became a worldwide phenomenon, forcing people to get out of their homes in search of the adorable Pokemon. Since then, however, the number of players playing the game has steadily declined. But Niantic is doing all it can to keep the interest in the game alive. From hosting Pokemon Go Fest community events to bringing regular updates and features to the game, Niantic is keen on gaining back the user base it once enjoyed. And now, the company is gearing up for one of the biggest updates ever! Read on!
Biggest ever Pokemon Go update coming soon
Niantic has officially confirmed that Pokemon Go is all set to receive one of the biggest updates. After the update, trainers around the world will be able to participate in a revamped Gym gameplay experience. The update will also provide trainers the opportunity to join together with others to battle against powerful Pokemon in the new Raid Battle feature!
One of the significant features of the upcoming update will be the new Raid Battle feature, where players around the world will be able to participate at Gyms. The feature is best explained as the blog post puts it –
A Raid Battle is a cooperative gameplay experience that encourages you to work with other Trainers to defeat an extremely powerful Pokémon known as the Raid Boss. Before a Raid Battle begins, all Pokémon assigned to the Gym will return to their Trainers, and a large Egg will appear atop the Gym. When the countdown above the Egg reaches zero, the Raid Boss will be revealed.
Before you can battle the Raid Boss, you’ll need a Raid Pass. You can get one free Raid Pass per day by visiting a Gym, but you can only hold one at a time. You can also get Premium Raid Passes from the in-game shop. Upon using your pass to join the battle, you and up to 20 other Trainers work together to defeat the Raid Boss. If you successfully defeat the Raid Boss within the five-minute time limit, you’ll have the chance to catch an extra powerful Pokémon of your own!
The update will also bring in new gym features and updates. Players will be able to spin the Photo Disc at Gyms to acquire items, just as they currently do at PokeStops. Gyms are no longer based on Prestige and training. Instead, they now feature six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team’s Pokémon.
What’s more – the update will bring in a new motivation system that will significantly alter how players will interact with the Gym. Here’s the complete description of the new motivation system –
When a Pokémon is assigned to a Gym, a motivation meter will be displayed. Pokémon assigned to defend a Gym lose motivation over time and as they are defeated in battle. As a Pokémon loses motivation, its CP will temporarily decrease, making it easier for opposing teams to defeat. To help keep the Pokémon motivated and in tip-top shape for their next battle, Trainers can treat their team’s Pokémon to some Berries, which restore their motivation. If a Pokémon loses all motivation, it will leave the Gym and return to its Trainer the next time it loses a battle, so you’ll want to keep your team’s Pokémon motivated by giving them Berries frequently!
The update will also bring in Gym Badges, which players can earn while interacting with Gyms around the world. These serve as mementos of the player’s Pokemon Go Adventures and reflect the contribution to Gym’s success. Players can also level up badges by battling, giving Berries to the Pokemon in the Gym and spinning the PhotoDisc.
Niantic has also announced that they will be temporarily disabling all Gyms until the update rolls out to players around the world. Once the update is rolled out, Gyms will return and the Raid Battle feature will be gradually rolled out over the next few weeks, starting as a beta, with raids that will be visible only to a small set of players at only certain Gym locations.
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